Slot closer



L.-c. LUKE SLOT CLOSER v Filed Dec. 26, 1934 Fgh 4, 1-93 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 p WITNESSES A'ITORNE Patented Feb. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SLOT CLOSER Leo 0. Luke, Independence, Kans., assignor to The Atchison Revolving Door 00., Independence, Kans., a corporation of Delaware Application December 26, 1934, Serial No. 759,290

11 Claims.

This invention relates to closures and the like, and relates more specifically to devices for automatically covering and uncovering slots such as are commonly found in the ceilings of revolving door enclosures.

The ceiling of a revolving door enclosure is quite often provided with a slot extending from approximately the center of the revolving door enclosure to its side, through which the central spindle or shaft of the revolving door extends. Above the slot the end of the spindle is usually journaled in a carriage or truck rolling along a track, so that it may be shifted from its normal operating position at the center of the revolving door enclosure, to a collapsed position at the side of the enclosure. Cold air from outside of the building finds ready access to the inside of the building through this slot and dust particles also may pass through this slot and interfere with the operation of the carriage or truck and governing mechanism controlling the speed of rotation of the door commonly provided at the upper end of the revolving door spindle. Furthermore, oil and grease from the governing mechanism or from the carriage may drip through the slot to the annoyance of those passing through the revolving door.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide means which will permit the shifting of the spindle of the revolving door along the slot, but which will automatically cover or close the slot when the revolving door is either in its normal operating position at the center of the revolving door enclosure, or in a collapsed position against the side of the revolving door enclosure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device of this character which will find use in many difierent associations where a closure is desired for automatically covering and uncovering a slot, without conscious manipulation, as a member is shifted to various predetermined positions along that slot.

With these and other objects in view, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one embodiment of my invention, illustrated as applied to a revolving door structure, showing the position of the parts when the central spindle is positioned for the normal operation of the door;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the slot closure shown in Fig. l, with the central spindle of the revolving door illustrated (in cross section) in its -normal operating position at the center of the revolving door enclosure.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 but with the central spindle illustrated as in position at the side of the revolving door enclosure when the door is collapsed;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of m invention employing a single plate closure, and showing the spindle of the revolving door as in its normal operative position at the center of the revolving door enclosure, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the form of my device illustrated in Fig. 4, showing the spindle oi the revolving door in position at the side of the enclosure when the door is collapsed.

In the accompanying drawings, my invention is illustrated as applied to a revolving door structure in which association it finds particular application. However, it is to be understood that it may be applied to any other device in which an automatic slot closure is desired.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a relatively long narrow slot formed in the ceiling 23 of a revolving door enclosure, and extending radially from approximately the center of the enclosure to one of the side walls of the enclosure. The numeral 2 indicates a spindle of a revolving door to which the door wings 3, illustrated in Fig. l as in fully collapsed position, are secured in any desired manner, but preferably are so fastened that they may be fully collapsed, like the leaves of a book, on one side of the spindle, or, at least, partially collapsed with two wings extending radially and substantially parallel on either side of the spindle of the door. The spindle 2 extends upwardly through the slot I and is suitably journaled in a carriage 4, disposed above the ceiling and mounted on wheels or rollers 5 riding on tracks 6 supported above the ceiling one on each side of the slot and parallel thereto. The lower end of the spindle is fitted in a bearing socket in the central part of the floor of the revolving door enclosure (not shown) when the. door is in normal operating position. The spindle may be unstepped from this socket and with the door shifted to the side of the revolving door structure, riding with the carriage 4, the wings, of course, having first been folded to a semicollapsed or fully collapsed position.

In the first three figures of the drawings a slot closure is illustrated consisting of a pair of superimposed rectangular plates 1 and 8 made of suitable metal, such as brass, steel, or bronze, and formed with relatively narrow slots 9 and I ll having angularly disposed or inclined end portions I I and I2, the straight portions of these slots being slightly shorter than the slot I formed in the ceiling of the revolving door enclosure. The inclined portions H and I2 are at one end only but when assembled as shown the extensions of the respective slots are disposed at the opposite ends of the combined plates and extend across the slots as shown. Each plate has a blank portion of suflicient width to cover the slot I in the ceiling, the blank portion of the lower plate I being indicated by the numeral I5 and the blank portion in the upper plate being indicated by the numeral IS.

The plates are mounted on the upper surface of the ceiling in such a manner as to have a limited simultaneous lateral and longitudinal shifting movement relative to each other and to the slot I, and to this end they are preferably provided with diagonal or angularly disposed slots I7 and I8 which are inclined in a direction opposite to the angularly disposed ends II and I2 of the slots 9 and i i). The superimposed plates are held to the upper surface of the ceiling by a pair of screws I9 and 2E passing through the slots I1 and I8 and into the ceiling, the arrangement being such as to permit the plates I and 8 to shift with respect to each other and to the slot in the ceiling, the movement of the plates being in lines parallel to each other and to said slots I I and I 8, and of an extent of movement sufficient to cause the plates to alternately cover and uncover the ceiling slot, as the spindle or shaft 2 is shifted from one end to the other.

The spindle 2 extends upwards through the slot I in the ceiling and through the slots 9 and I0 formed in the plates I and 8. When the door is in normal operating position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower plate I covers the slot I in the ceiling, and the slot 96 of the upper plate is in registry with the slot i. When the wings of the door are collapsed and the door is shifted on its truck toward the side of the enclosure, spindle 2 engaging the side of the inclined portion II in the slot 9, causes the lower plate to shift so that the straight portion of its slot comes into registry with the slot I. Obviously, the slot I will then be clear and unobstructed until the spindle 2 comes in contact with the side of the inclined portion I2 of the slot Ill, when the plate 8 will be caused to so as to cover the slot I, as indicated in Fig. 3. When the revolving door is again'returned to its normal operating position, spindle 2 will first cause the upper plate 8 --to shift so that the straight portion of its slot will come in registry with the slot I, and the slot I will then be clear and unobstructed until the spindle contacts the wall of the inclinedportion II of the slot 9, when the lower plate I will be shifted so as to cover the slot I, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus, when the spindle is disposed at either end of the slot I, either one plate or the other will cover the slot I, but as the spindle is shifted through the central portion of the slot I, it will be clear and unobstructed.

Instead of the double plate closure described above, a single plate closure, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, may be employed. This closure consists of a plate 24, provided with a slot having two angularly disposed ends 26 and 2'! extending in different directions from its opposite ends. The straight portion of the slot 25 is likewise preferably shorter than the slot i form-ed in the ceiling, and blank spaces 38 and 3'! of-sufiicient width to cover the slot I are provided on either side of the slot 25.

The plate 24 is mounted on the ceiling in a manner similar to the plates 1 and 8, so that it may have simultaneous lateral and longitudinal shift movement with respect to the ceiling. To this end diagonal or angularly disposed guide slots 30 and 3| inclined oppositely to the diagonal slot ends 26 and 21 are formed adjacent the two ends of the plate. A pair of screws 32 and 33 secured in the ceiling and preferably provided with anti-friction washers 34 and 35, engage the slots so as to hold the plate in position above the ceiling but permitting limiting shifting movement in the direction of the slots.

The spindle 2 extends through the slot I formed in the ceiling and the slot 25 in the plate. When the spindle is in normal operating position, the portion 36 of the plate 24 covers the slot I. When the door wings are collapsed and shifted toward the side of the door enclosure, the spindle2 engaging the wall of the inclined portion 26 of the slot 25, causes the plate 24 to shift and'bring the straight portion of the slot 25 into registry with the slot I in the ceiling, leaving it clear and unobstructed. As the spindle 2 approaches the other end of the slot I, it engages the side wall of the inclined portion 21 of the slot 25, causing the plate 24 to shift, so that the blank portion 3'! covers the slot I, as indicated in Fig. 5. When the door is again returned to its normal operating position, the spindle will first cause the plate 24 to shift so that the straight portion of slot 25 comes into registry with the slot I, and then when it engages the wall'of the inclined portion 26 of the slot 25, plate 24 will be shifted so that the blank portion 36 will cover slot I, as indicated in Fig. 4.

It will be seen that in both of the illustratedforms of my invention the slots I1 and I8 and 30 and SI are so inclined relative to the angularly disposed portions of the slots 9, I0 and 25, that with a slot parallel to and registrable with said first-mentioned slot and engaging said shaft, said slot having an end disposed at an angle to'said first-mentioned slot for causing said plate to shift to cover and uncover the first mentioned slot'as" said shaft is shifted along said slot.

2. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a member formed with arelatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, and a pair of plates disposed above and shiftable relative to said member, and each formed with slots engaging said shaft and'parallel to and registrable with the slot in said member, said slots having exten sions disposed at an angle relative to said firstmentioned slot and fastening means providing for simultaneous lateral and longitudinal shifting 1 of said plates.

3. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a member formed with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a shiftable plate disposed above said member and having a slot registrable with said first-mentioned slot and engaging said shaft, said slot having an angularly disposed extension, and fastening means including a pair of angularly disposed slots formed in said plate and inclined oppositely to said angularly disposed extension and pins passing through said slots into said member.

4. A device of thecharacter described comprising in combination, a member formed. with a relatively long narrow slot, a shaft extending through and shiftable along said slot, a pair of shiftable plates disposed above said member, having slots registrable with each other and with said first-named slot and engaging said shaft, said slots having angularly disposed extensions,

and means for securing said plates to said member comprising a pair of angularly disposed slots inclined in a direction opposite to said angularly disposed extensions and pins passing through said slots into said member.

5. In combination with the central spindle of a revolving door, a stationary member having a slot formed therein engaging said spindle, said spindle being shiftable along said slot, a plate disposed above said member and formed with a 'slot engaging said spindle, said slot having an angularly disposed end, and means including a pair of angularly disposed slots and pins engaging said last-named slots for securing said plate to said stationary member.

6. In combination with the central spindle of a revolving door, a stationary member having a slot formed therein, disposed adjacent the upper end of said spindle, said spindle extending through and being shiftable along said slot, a pair of plates disposed above said member and formed with slots engaging said spindle, said slots having angularly disposed extensions, and means including a pair of angularly disposed slots and pins engaging said last-named slots for securing said plates to said stationary member.

7. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a collapsible revolving door formed with a central spindle, an enclosure for said revolving door having a ceiling formed with a slot extending radially from the center of said enclosure towards one of its walls, said spindle passing through and being shiftable along said slot, and a closure for said slot including a plate formed with a slot registrable with the slot in the ceiling and engaging said spindle, said last-men- J tioned slot having an angularly disposed end.

8. In combination with the central spindle of a collapsible revolving door, a ceiling having a slot formed therein disposed adjacent the upper end of said spindle, said spindle extending through and being shiftable along said slot, and a plate disposed above said ceiling and formed with a slot engaging said spindle, said plate being secured to, said ceiling for shift movement relative to the slot, and the slot in the plate having an angularly disposed portion so as to cause the plate to move relative to the ceiling as the spindle is shifted so as to close the slot in said ceiling.

9. In combination with the central spindle of a collapsible revolving door, a ceiling having a slot formed therein disposed adjacent the upper end of said spindle, said spindle extending through and being shiftable along said slot, and a plate disposed above said ceiling and formed with a slot engaging said spindle, said plate being secured to said ceiling for diagonal shift movement with respect to the slot in the ceiling, and the slot in the plate having a portion disposed at an angle substantially at right angles to the direction of shift of said plate so as to cause the plate to move relative to the ceiling as the spindle is shifted so as to close the slot in said ceiling.

10. In combination with the central spindle of a collapsible revolving door, a ceiling having a slot formed therein disposed adjacent the upper end of said spindle, said spindle extending through and being shiftable along said slot, and a pair of plates disposed above said ceiling and each formed with slots engaging said spindle, said plates being secured to said ceiling for shift movement with respect to the slot of the ceiling, and the slots in said plates having angularly disposed portions so as to cause the plates to move relative to the ceiling as the spindle is shifted so as to close the slot in said ceiling.

11. In combination with the central spindle of a collapsible revolving door, a ceiling having a slot formed therein disposed adjacent the upper end of said spindle, said spindle extending through and being shiftable along said slot, and a pair of plates disposed above said ceiling each being formed with a slot engaging said spindle, said plates being secured to said ceiling for diagonal shift movement with respect to the slot formed in the ceiling, and the slots in said plates having portions disposed substantially at right angles to the direction of shift of said plates so as to cause the plates to move relative to the ceiling as the spindle is shifted so as to close the slot in said ceiling.

LEO C. LUKE. 

